Poverty in the Valley

Silicon Valley is one of the most affluent areas in the United States, yet poverty runs deeper than one may think. In Santa Clara County, nearly 18.7% of our population cannot afford basic necessities each month without financial assistance (according to the Supplemental Poverty Measure). With the current income inequality, that number is quickly growing as more middle-class families are forced into poverty. Too many residents of Santa Clara struggle with the high costs of housing, transportation, and health care. Our community has a clear need for more jobs paying livable wages that enable people to build assets and savings for their children’s education, home ownership, and retirement. Children of families in poverty struggle in school, with many dropping out. Those who persist through high school often never make it through college. This is how the seeds are planted for the next generation of poverty.

With the growing income gap; that number is quickly growing as more middle-class families are forced into poverty. A significant number of residents in Santa Clara County must struggle with the high costs of food, housing, transportation, education, and health care.

OUR MISSIONWe seek to transform community awareness and
generate the political will to create systems change
that enables individuals and families to step up out
of poverty in Santa Clara County.

OUR VISION
Our goal is to reduce poverty and to increase economic
opportunity in Santa Clara County. We are committed to
creating a community that is thriving and self-sufficient;
where everyone has access to affordable health care,
sufficient nutritious food, decent affordable housing,
meaningful educational and career opportunities, and
reliable income that meets their basic financial needs.